Home cinema options circa £400
Discussion
Morning all,
Our tv area is approx 3m x 3m (part of a larger open plan room)
I want to improve film sound quality by working around the tv speakers (10 year old sony bravia flat screen).
I started by digging out from the garage a 15+ year old Sony str-445 avr that does dts. It's a bit temperamental, but works for now. It takes coax and optical digital from either our blu ray player or humax box.
This was with some cheapish floor standers in front (acoustic solutions ) wharfdale diamond 9.0 rears and an eltax centre. No sub.
The acoustic solutions give plenty of base in this room, but the centre was pretty flat to be honest (I swapped it for a b&w dm601 temporarily, and the difference was huge). The LCR set up though are a bit cumbersome and don't really fit our TV set up now, so I would want a neater (ie smaller) set up if I am going to keep 5.1 alive.
My thoughts were to either:
- ditch 5.1 and go with some alternative solution
- upgrade 5.0 speakers to (hopefully) better and smaller 5.1 ones with a sub to handle bass, then eventually replace the avr when it conks out (at least 1 year hopefully)
Before xmas I was dissuaded from getting a cambridge audio soundbase or standalone soundbars (as generally being sub optimal), but the seed of a sound bar with sub and Wi-Fi rears was planted.
Post xmas I have about £400 I want to put towards this, and a couple of options
1) the q acoustic 5.1 speaker package, which is around £400. From what I read these are still a good proposition, and would work in the space I have. Downsides would be no hdmi integration and still a big chunky avr sitting alongside the tv, plus future cost of a new avr (probably£300+)
2) just spotted a polk magnifi sr 5.1 deal for about £330 (richer sounds clearance). This has huge price advantage over say a similar Sonos affair with 5.1 which would be £1k, and also saves against the 5.1 speaker package because it would avoid the need to replace the avr in the future (which can go back to garage duties).
The traditionalist part of me thinks I should stick with speakers to do the job "properly", but given the space is quite small, part of me thinks a 5.1 soundbar would be a really need way to resolve this.
The worries are the polk's sound quality of LCR and its longer term reliability (though richer sounds still give 1 year warranty)
I really don't want to go above £400, as I have other calls on my cash.
The system won't be used for music, and I don't think the rest of the family really give a toss about pure sound quality...
..so I want to get beyond tv speaker quality and into the foothills of ok 5.1 quality, but don't want to climb everest in terms of sound quality. Maybe a Scafell Pike type quality?
Can anyone help add any thoughts to this?
Thanks for reading
Ian
Our tv area is approx 3m x 3m (part of a larger open plan room)
I want to improve film sound quality by working around the tv speakers (10 year old sony bravia flat screen).
I started by digging out from the garage a 15+ year old Sony str-445 avr that does dts. It's a bit temperamental, but works for now. It takes coax and optical digital from either our blu ray player or humax box.
This was with some cheapish floor standers in front (acoustic solutions ) wharfdale diamond 9.0 rears and an eltax centre. No sub.
The acoustic solutions give plenty of base in this room, but the centre was pretty flat to be honest (I swapped it for a b&w dm601 temporarily, and the difference was huge). The LCR set up though are a bit cumbersome and don't really fit our TV set up now, so I would want a neater (ie smaller) set up if I am going to keep 5.1 alive.
My thoughts were to either:
- ditch 5.1 and go with some alternative solution
- upgrade 5.0 speakers to (hopefully) better and smaller 5.1 ones with a sub to handle bass, then eventually replace the avr when it conks out (at least 1 year hopefully)
Before xmas I was dissuaded from getting a cambridge audio soundbase or standalone soundbars (as generally being sub optimal), but the seed of a sound bar with sub and Wi-Fi rears was planted.
Post xmas I have about £400 I want to put towards this, and a couple of options
1) the q acoustic 5.1 speaker package, which is around £400. From what I read these are still a good proposition, and would work in the space I have. Downsides would be no hdmi integration and still a big chunky avr sitting alongside the tv, plus future cost of a new avr (probably£300+)
2) just spotted a polk magnifi sr 5.1 deal for about £330 (richer sounds clearance). This has huge price advantage over say a similar Sonos affair with 5.1 which would be £1k, and also saves against the 5.1 speaker package because it would avoid the need to replace the avr in the future (which can go back to garage duties).
The traditionalist part of me thinks I should stick with speakers to do the job "properly", but given the space is quite small, part of me thinks a 5.1 soundbar would be a really need way to resolve this.
The worries are the polk's sound quality of LCR and its longer term reliability (though richer sounds still give 1 year warranty)
I really don't want to go above £400, as I have other calls on my cash.
The system won't be used for music, and I don't think the rest of the family really give a toss about pure sound quality...
..so I want to get beyond tv speaker quality and into the foothills of ok 5.1 quality, but don't want to climb everest in terms of sound quality. Maybe a Scafell Pike type quality?
Can anyone help add any thoughts to this?
Thanks for reading
Ian
I wouldnt attempt 5.1 at that budget. Stick with either:
2.1 channel floor standing speakers + sub
3.1 channel passive sound bar + sub
Its easy to get carried away trying to achieve more channels when if budget doesn't allow, you're better off having less channels of audio but better quality.
Again, will be a trawl of ebay ...
2.1 channel floor standing speakers + sub
3.1 channel passive sound bar + sub
Its easy to get carried away trying to achieve more channels when if budget doesn't allow, you're better off having less channels of audio but better quality.
Again, will be a trawl of ebay ...
All my opinion... so whoever's disagrees feel free
Anyone who says you cant achieve a half decent sound with £400 is talking rubbish... you just need to know what to look for, and definitely buy second hand.
Id avoid sound bars. New soundbars at 400 are rubbish in my opinion. I dont know why people buy them. My guess is they bundle them in with TVs. The sound better than TV speakers but that's about it.
If I had £400 to get a reasonable sound I'd be buying these...
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
These...
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
The MS904s are amazingly good little speakers for what they cost new, and second hand assuming in good nick, these are a steal. My dad has a pair in the spare room powered by an old Quad set-up.
This...
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
That leaves not a lot for a little active sub. I've had in the past one of these and it was an amazingly punchy little thing. I'd still have it if the hamster hadn't escaped one night and made her home in it... would be the perfect accompanying sub for that set up. Not over kill either.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
Anyone who says you cant achieve a half decent sound with £400 is talking rubbish... you just need to know what to look for, and definitely buy second hand.
Id avoid sound bars. New soundbars at 400 are rubbish in my opinion. I dont know why people buy them. My guess is they bundle them in with TVs. The sound better than TV speakers but that's about it.
If I had £400 to get a reasonable sound I'd be buying these...
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
These...
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
The MS904s are amazingly good little speakers for what they cost new, and second hand assuming in good nick, these are a steal. My dad has a pair in the spare room powered by an old Quad set-up.
This...
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
That leaves not a lot for a little active sub. I've had in the past one of these and it was an amazingly punchy little thing. I'd still have it if the hamster hadn't escaped one night and made her home in it... would be the perfect accompanying sub for that set up. Not over kill either.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2...
Thank you for your replies, they are all really useful and have helped me judge things.
I have been on ebay quite a bit since before black Friday, but it's hard to really gauge what is good equipment vs. tat being cleared out.
E.g. I've heard of mordant short, but I wouldn't know if it was a cheap speaker being sold cheap, an expensive speaker being sold cheap, or indeed a cheap speaker being sold expensively...
Then, when you try and read up on a particular speaker's strengths, whadda know, it turns out the internet does not actually agree on anything, and you end up going round in circles.
The other problem is trying things out and then having an option of return if the internet was "wrong", which I don't think ebay would do so well at.
To cut a long story short, to stop the endless prevarication, i did pop into RS on new years day and pick up the last Polk SR soundbar, which was a £310 open box deal. This comes with a wireless sub and rear surrounds.
I am now in the process of trying to convince myself that I can live with the compromises it gives.
- dialogue is way better than the tv, and better than the cheap eltax centre from my previous 5.0 trial
- bass is great, and blends well with the bar's sound
- the rears do enough to be convincing and useful
- i've not listened to music on it, as that was not what it's for
- but, the stereo imaging is not really there, and presence of sound in front when viewing movies is not as full as with the floor standers I was testing before.
As a product i'm really impressed with it and its functionality, but as people suspected, it's not going to be able to do everything.
I'm also weighing this up against the layout gains the Polk system brings, and avoiding further spend now and in the future by sticking with this system.
I think Richer sounds would let me return it, but I think there might be a limit for them (and me) on the setups I can realistically trial.
When the Christmas tree get put back this weekend (it's in the space the speakers were in), I will trial it against the old avr and previous floor standers, to get another idea of how a wider spread of sound "sounds", and if it's worth £hundreds more or not.
(I was correct though in guessing that my wife and kids don't give a hoot either way)
Ian
I have been on ebay quite a bit since before black Friday, but it's hard to really gauge what is good equipment vs. tat being cleared out.
E.g. I've heard of mordant short, but I wouldn't know if it was a cheap speaker being sold cheap, an expensive speaker being sold cheap, or indeed a cheap speaker being sold expensively...
Then, when you try and read up on a particular speaker's strengths, whadda know, it turns out the internet does not actually agree on anything, and you end up going round in circles.
The other problem is trying things out and then having an option of return if the internet was "wrong", which I don't think ebay would do so well at.
To cut a long story short, to stop the endless prevarication, i did pop into RS on new years day and pick up the last Polk SR soundbar, which was a £310 open box deal. This comes with a wireless sub and rear surrounds.
I am now in the process of trying to convince myself that I can live with the compromises it gives.
- dialogue is way better than the tv, and better than the cheap eltax centre from my previous 5.0 trial
- bass is great, and blends well with the bar's sound
- the rears do enough to be convincing and useful
- i've not listened to music on it, as that was not what it's for
- but, the stereo imaging is not really there, and presence of sound in front when viewing movies is not as full as with the floor standers I was testing before.
As a product i'm really impressed with it and its functionality, but as people suspected, it's not going to be able to do everything.
I'm also weighing this up against the layout gains the Polk system brings, and avoiding further spend now and in the future by sticking with this system.
I think Richer sounds would let me return it, but I think there might be a limit for them (and me) on the setups I can realistically trial.
When the Christmas tree get put back this weekend (it's in the space the speakers were in), I will trial it against the old avr and previous floor standers, to get another idea of how a wider spread of sound "sounds", and if it's worth £hundreds more or not.
(I was correct though in guessing that my wife and kids don't give a hoot either way)
Ian
It is really difficult to tell from looking online and some speakers match certain amps. It's tricky understanding reviews what people are actually reviewing and the equipment they are using.
For example i have a pair of home built speakers using tweeters and crossovers from a pair of old castle speakers that got damaged with new mid range units. I've tried them with four different set-ups.
A Marantz stereo amp combined with an old Sony CD player, a Rotel 5.1 AV reciever with Sony blu-ray/SACD source, a Naim set-up (pre/power using a CA sacd source) and an entry level Denon 5.1 AV receiver using a PS3 sacd source.
Unsurprisingly the Naim was the best by quite a margin (but we're talking several thousand pounds worth of equipment here). The older Marantz Stereo amp and Sony CD player was amazingly good and I was really surprised by the tone and delicacy. With the Rotel they were WAY too harsh and bright, almost stabby (I cant remember the model of the reciever, but it was circa £1200 in around 2008). With the denon they're okay, but they're definitely not being used to thier full potential. I guess what I'm saying is that reviewing speakers is very subjective to the source
Regarding speakers, with the budget you have, I'd personally be looking for something from one of the big players with an old well respected name. Mordaunt Short, Monitor Audio, KEF, Castle, Ruark (might be a stretch). Dont be afraid to mix and match, although ideally you want the two fronts and centre to have the same tweeters as they're the ones that are used for dialogue. Rears are less critical as they are usually used for sound effects (traffic, bullets, aircraft etc). In my experience, unless you're buying REALLY expensive cutting edge stuff, then speakers haven't really changed THAT much. They may not look shiny and new, but you can get a really nice set of speakers second hand for not a lot of money if you look around.
WhatHiFi is one of the better and more respected sites for reviews as they will test with various equipment.
For example i have a pair of home built speakers using tweeters and crossovers from a pair of old castle speakers that got damaged with new mid range units. I've tried them with four different set-ups.
A Marantz stereo amp combined with an old Sony CD player, a Rotel 5.1 AV reciever with Sony blu-ray/SACD source, a Naim set-up (pre/power using a CA sacd source) and an entry level Denon 5.1 AV receiver using a PS3 sacd source.
Unsurprisingly the Naim was the best by quite a margin (but we're talking several thousand pounds worth of equipment here). The older Marantz Stereo amp and Sony CD player was amazingly good and I was really surprised by the tone and delicacy. With the Rotel they were WAY too harsh and bright, almost stabby (I cant remember the model of the reciever, but it was circa £1200 in around 2008). With the denon they're okay, but they're definitely not being used to thier full potential. I guess what I'm saying is that reviewing speakers is very subjective to the source
Regarding speakers, with the budget you have, I'd personally be looking for something from one of the big players with an old well respected name. Mordaunt Short, Monitor Audio, KEF, Castle, Ruark (might be a stretch). Dont be afraid to mix and match, although ideally you want the two fronts and centre to have the same tweeters as they're the ones that are used for dialogue. Rears are less critical as they are usually used for sound effects (traffic, bullets, aircraft etc). In my experience, unless you're buying REALLY expensive cutting edge stuff, then speakers haven't really changed THAT much. They may not look shiny and new, but you can get a really nice set of speakers second hand for not a lot of money if you look around.
WhatHiFi is one of the better and more respected sites for reviews as they will test with various equipment.
Have a look at AV forums classifieds
https://www.avforums.com/categories/classified-adv...
Rare to find rubbish being sold on there as its mainly enthusiasts. Good luck.
https://www.avforums.com/categories/classified-adv...
Rare to find rubbish being sold on there as its mainly enthusiasts. Good luck.
Thanks all, I do appreciate the time you're taking to reply.
After listening again to my floor standing speakers (with a b&w doing the centre), I do prefer the sound of this to the soundbar.
Annoyingly my old sony avr is being really temperamental now and refusing to operate the rears, and lacking an active sub that isn't linked to the polk system, the side by side test is tricky.
But the width of sound is just so much more impressive, so I think the soundbar will be getting repacked carefully this weekend.
In looking for second hand avrs, are there any standout models to seek out? I get that denon and marantz tend to be favoured over sony, yahama and onkyo.
I dunno if this rule of thumb is too simplistic, but the move from spring clips to banana sockets seems to denote a certain strata of price, that I will look for along with 4k hdmi pass through and maybe wifi.
I'll read up on active subs, but that's lower on my list than a decent centre and a working avr
How would something like a Dali spektor vokal stack up against those Morduant Shorts?
Front left and rights can wait as well, but I have already seen some absolute bargains on the avforum for sale thread.
And finally before I go chasing on the web for 2nd hand stuff, do people think that the all in 5.1 speaker packages (say wharfdale dx2 or q acoustic 3010) are just going to be inferior to floor standers and a better quality centre?
Thanks
Ian
After listening again to my floor standing speakers (with a b&w doing the centre), I do prefer the sound of this to the soundbar.
Annoyingly my old sony avr is being really temperamental now and refusing to operate the rears, and lacking an active sub that isn't linked to the polk system, the side by side test is tricky.
But the width of sound is just so much more impressive, so I think the soundbar will be getting repacked carefully this weekend.
In looking for second hand avrs, are there any standout models to seek out? I get that denon and marantz tend to be favoured over sony, yahama and onkyo.
I dunno if this rule of thumb is too simplistic, but the move from spring clips to banana sockets seems to denote a certain strata of price, that I will look for along with 4k hdmi pass through and maybe wifi.
I'll read up on active subs, but that's lower on my list than a decent centre and a working avr
How would something like a Dali spektor vokal stack up against those Morduant Shorts?
Front left and rights can wait as well, but I have already seen some absolute bargains on the avforum for sale thread.
And finally before I go chasing on the web for 2nd hand stuff, do people think that the all in 5.1 speaker packages (say wharfdale dx2 or q acoustic 3010) are just going to be inferior to floor standers and a better quality centre?
Thanks
Ian
A sound bar of that type, is just a load of crazily cheap pennies components, packaged together and sold on convenience.
Buy a second hand complete smaller speaker system, like the Q Acoustics.
You started you wanted smaller speakers and these fit the bill.
QA are a genuine company, making good value products, not an old brand name being regurgitated by 3rd parties.
Lower quality bigger speakers sound worse. As you’ll be crossing the L/R over at 80/90hz anyway, they are a waste of space anyway.
Then buy a second hand (HDMI 2.0 / HDCP 2.2) Denon / Marantz receiver and set it up correctly.
You’ll then have a room corrected AV system, with small speakers and a cohesive soundstage, that will be good for music and films.
I bet you can do it with within budget too, if you take your time.
Buy a second hand complete smaller speaker system, like the Q Acoustics.
You started you wanted smaller speakers and these fit the bill.
QA are a genuine company, making good value products, not an old brand name being regurgitated by 3rd parties.
Lower quality bigger speakers sound worse. As you’ll be crossing the L/R over at 80/90hz anyway, they are a waste of space anyway.
Then buy a second hand (HDMI 2.0 / HDCP 2.2) Denon / Marantz receiver and set it up correctly.
You’ll then have a room corrected AV system, with small speakers and a cohesive soundstage, that will be good for music and films.
I bet you can do it with within budget too, if you take your time.
Ambleton said:
All my opinion... so whoever's disagrees feel free
Anyone who says you cant achieve a half decent sound with £400 is talking rubbish... you just need to know what to look for, and definitely buy second hand.
Id avoid sound bars. New soundbars at 400 are rubbish in my opinion. I dont know why people buy them. My guess is they bundle them in with TVs. The sound better than TV speakers but that's about it.
1
I would agree with this, £400 is enough to get you a pretty ok setup that will make you happy if you have surived off TV speakers this long!Anyone who says you cant achieve a half decent sound with £400 is talking rubbish... you just need to know what to look for, and definitely buy second hand.
Id avoid sound bars. New soundbars at 400 are rubbish in my opinion. I dont know why people buy them. My guess is they bundle them in with TVs. The sound better than TV speakers but that's about it.
1
WHere is your closest RIcher Sounds?
They have a few of the equivalent to the below, so go to your closest store and speak to them. They are great at helping!
https://www.richersounds.com/tv-home-cinema/home-c...
https://www.richersounds.com/tv-home-cinema/home-c...
Get yourself a new AVR if yours is on the blink.
If you start with 3 reasonable speakers the L and R can be repurposed for surround at a later date and you don't waste any money.
By the sound of things you want smaller front speakers (can you move the floorstanders to the rear??) and a new centre speaker.
I've always used Pioneer AV amps- a new one for about £300 leaves around £100 for a new centre and cabling.
Enjoy
If you start with 3 reasonable speakers the L and R can be repurposed for surround at a later date and you don't waste any money.
By the sound of things you want smaller front speakers (can you move the floorstanders to the rear??) and a new centre speaker.
I've always used Pioneer AV amps- a new one for about £300 leaves around £100 for a new centre and cabling.
Enjoy
Edited by Miserablegit on Tuesday 7th January 10:01
I'll mirror some other thoughts here and say go 2nd hand. What do you use for a source for your movies? TV? Blu ray?
If you're only interested in 5.1 and not bothered about Atmos etc I'd point you towards some forums that have a good classified section.
You should be able to pick up a sub and an amp and still get change from 250 rest get speakers as needed from eBay etc.
If you're only interested in 5.1 and not bothered about Atmos etc I'd point you towards some forums that have a good classified section.
You should be able to pick up a sub and an amp and still get change from 250 rest get speakers as needed from eBay etc.
heisthegaffer said:
Have a look at AV forums classifieds
https://www.avforums.com/categories/classified-adv...
Rare to find rubbish being sold on there as its mainly enthusiasts. Good luck.
For starters you have these:-https://www.avforums.com/categories/classified-adv...
Rare to find rubbish being sold on there as its mainly enthusiasts. Good luck.
https://www.avforums.com/threads/yamaha-rx-v683-mu...
https://www.avforums.com/threads/marantz-nr1506-5-...
https://www.avforums.com/threads/slimline-marantz-...
Update
I picked up a Q Acoustic 1000si sub on gumtree for £80
Avr..I was following a few yamaha and denon listings, but they climbed over £300. Based on what was available nearby, I'm just picking up a sony str1050, bought for £200.
My view was the compatibility with my bravia tv and sony blu ray would outweigh the sony being the less well regarded product (though it will still deliver way more than I need).
I'm following some mordaunt short MS90x speakers on ebay, this is for centre and probably replacement left / right floor standers. I will have to see what price they end up at, but don't want to get carried away.
An alternative I saw was a secondhand b&w lcr60 centre for £100, but again it's the risk of getting carried way beyond what I need.
I wiil see how the sony avr sounds tonight, but at the moment i'm £120 under my budget with really only a centre speaker to buy.
I will update this again, and thanks for the pointers.
Ian
I picked up a Q Acoustic 1000si sub on gumtree for £80
Avr..I was following a few yamaha and denon listings, but they climbed over £300. Based on what was available nearby, I'm just picking up a sony str1050, bought for £200.
My view was the compatibility with my bravia tv and sony blu ray would outweigh the sony being the less well regarded product (though it will still deliver way more than I need).
I'm following some mordaunt short MS90x speakers on ebay, this is for centre and probably replacement left / right floor standers. I will have to see what price they end up at, but don't want to get carried away.
An alternative I saw was a secondhand b&w lcr60 centre for £100, but again it's the risk of getting carried way beyond what I need.
I wiil see how the sony avr sounds tonight, but at the moment i'm £120 under my budget with really only a centre speaker to buy.
I will update this again, and thanks for the pointers.
Ian
Ian Geary said:
Update
I picked up a Q Acoustic 1000si sub on gumtree for £80
Avr..I was following a few yamaha and denon listings, but they climbed over £300. Based on what was available nearby, I'm just picking up a sony str1050, bought for £200.
My view was the compatibility with my bravia tv and sony blu ray would outweigh the sony being the less well regarded product (though it will still deliver way more than I need).
I'm following some mordaunt short MS90x speakers on ebay, this is for centre and probably replacement left / right floor standers. I will have to see what price they end up at, but don't want to get carried away.
An alternative I saw was a secondhand b&w lcr60 centre for £100, but again it's the risk of getting carried way beyond what I need.
I wiil see how the sony avr sounds tonight, but at the moment i'm £120 under my budget with really only a centre speaker to buy.
I will update this again, and thanks for the pointers.
Ian
Sounds good mate. In terms of AV receivers, they're all good these days. I picked up a Q Acoustic 1000si sub on gumtree for £80
Avr..I was following a few yamaha and denon listings, but they climbed over £300. Based on what was available nearby, I'm just picking up a sony str1050, bought for £200.
My view was the compatibility with my bravia tv and sony blu ray would outweigh the sony being the less well regarded product (though it will still deliver way more than I need).
I'm following some mordaunt short MS90x speakers on ebay, this is for centre and probably replacement left / right floor standers. I will have to see what price they end up at, but don't want to get carried away.
An alternative I saw was a secondhand b&w lcr60 centre for £100, but again it's the risk of getting carried way beyond what I need.
I wiil see how the sony avr sounds tonight, but at the moment i'm £120 under my budget with really only a centre speaker to buy.
I will update this again, and thanks for the pointers.
Ian
Enjoy.
Just one final update on this.
I picked up a pair of Mordaunt Short MS914 and a MS905 on ebay today, for £106 combined.
They are very good - better than the acoustic solutions speakers I had before, which were quite boomy.
That brings the AVR, sub and front 3 speakers in at £386 (I've kept the wharfdale diamond 9s as rear channels, but they're down to £40 new now)
All in all it sounds a lot better than the soundbar did, though i'm glad I tested a bar first. The bass on the Polk's subwoofer was probably a bit tighter to be honest, but the quality and amount of sound from the floor standing speakers far outweighs this small point.
Cheers
Ian
I picked up a pair of Mordaunt Short MS914 and a MS905 on ebay today, for £106 combined.
They are very good - better than the acoustic solutions speakers I had before, which were quite boomy.
That brings the AVR, sub and front 3 speakers in at £386 (I've kept the wharfdale diamond 9s as rear channels, but they're down to £40 new now)
All in all it sounds a lot better than the soundbar did, though i'm glad I tested a bar first. The bass on the Polk's subwoofer was probably a bit tighter to be honest, but the quality and amount of sound from the floor standing speakers far outweighs this small point.
Cheers
Ian
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